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22 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | July 2015 By Kim Berndtson Project Case Study { Spotlight on creative, problem-solving kitchens and baths } T he previous f loor plan for this master bath in the San Antonio, TX, home of an emp- ty-nester couple, lacked focus as well as pizzazz. It was a bit scattered, and the frst thing anyone saw when they walked into the room was the door leading to the closet. But Crystal Romero, registered in- terior designer and Allied Member ASID, changed all of that when the homeowners commissioned San Antonio-based Bradshaw Designs, owned by Julie Bradshaw, Registered Interior Designer, Allied Member ASID and NKBA Member, to trans- form the master bath, bedroom and closet. Darren Leighton, prin- cipal with Jack Austin Homes and Remodeling, served as the contractor for the project. The frst thing anyone sees in the redesigned, award-winning bath is the luxurious tub niche – carved out of a portion of the existing master closet – that showcases a beautiful Tyrrell & Laing International slipper tub. Although made of a composite stone material, it resembles honed white limestone. Romero surrounded the freestanding tub with custom wain- scoting and inset mirrors that reach to the top of the 10'-tall ceilings. She accented it with a Newport Brass wall- mounted tub fller in an antique nickel fnish that blends with some of the existing hardware while giving a mod- ern touch, without being too shiny. "The couple wanted a 'glam' look," says Romero. "The rest of their home is mostly traditional, but for this space they wanted to step it up a bit. They wanted a transformation with a 'wow' efect." Other special elements in the tub niche include a pair of polished nickel sconces and a TV behind one of the mirrors on the side of the niche. It can easily be viewed when turned on, but 'vanishes' behind the two-way mirror when turned of. Both required a lot of planning in order to incorporate them safely and efectively. "It's unusual to see sconces behind a tub because of codes," she explains. "In this case, we had to wire them Small Bath Gets 'Glam' New Look FREESTANDING SLIPPER TUB Takes center stage and adds a 'wow' factor to the space REFLECTIVE MIRROR Inset into traditional-style wainscoting to create a bit of 'glam' MIRROR-MOUNTED SCONCES Doubles the efect of the light to enhance radiance